Tomato Ebola: Firm recommends bio-organic solution

Following the devastating impact of Tuta Absoluta outbreak on tomato farms in the country, an agriculture firm has advised farmers to embrace bio-organic solution to combat its spread on their farms.

This is coming against the backdrop of recent reports by tomato farmers in Akko, Kwani and Yamltu-Deba Local Government Areas of Gombe State, on the resurgence of the disease.

Recall that the pest affected lot of farms last year, causing a basket of Tomato to sell for as high as N35, 000.

A statement signed by Project Coordinator, CONTEC Global Agro Limited (CGAL), Amanda Udoji advised tomato growers and farmers to embrace some of its bio range products, that are tested and found to be successful and effective in tackling the pest.

She pointed out that the biological organic solutions formulated in Nigeria was used by farmers in Kura council area of Kano in 2016, as remedy against the menace, adding that the combined application of Fixit GA product and other bio organic solutions against the pest saved tomato farmers millions of naira that would have gone down the drain last year.

Udoji said the breakthrough by the organic agro farm inputs provider, was attested to by the Kano State National FADAMA III Agricultural and Rural Development Project Director, Alhaji Shuaibu Suleiman, who in his appreciation to CGAL management, said: “To our surprise, we came to find out Tate products performed very well. We also found the use of a combination of (Fixity GA) product and other bio pesticides, brought about a good solution against Tuta Absoluta, which has been causing menace to tomato growers.”

According to Suleiman, CGAL product Fixit GA, proved to be solution against Tuta Absoluta, adding that the success story of the company needs to be broadcast across the country, to guard against the outbreak.

The Project Coordinator recommended that farmers should follow the CGAL crop figment treatment to eliminate the pest attack on recently transplanted tomato seedlings.

“Also maize cultivators should look out for the fall army worm, which is a threat that can devastate maize cultivation.”

To mitigate the ravaging effect of the pest, which led to scarcity of tomatoes across the country, Udoji advised tomato growers to avoid imported inorganic chemicals, while corroborating a recent report by an online medium that the pest is resistant to chemicals in the market.